A new approach to fighting Alzheimer's disease...Aducanumab - shelf name: Aduhelm

It’s about time we get more options for fighting Alzheimer’s disease!

Aduhelm is the only Alzheimer medication that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved in nearly 20 years. Unlike previous Alzheimer’s medications, the use of Aduhelm is used to slow the progression of the disease and not solely treat the behaviors. The clinical trial for Aduhelm focused on patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease or very mild cognitive impairment. Therefore, it is currently unclear if Aduhelm is an effective drug for patients with moderate to severe diagnosis or cognitive impairment.  The trial showed improvements in slowing the deterioration of cognitive skills but did not reverse memory loss.

To determine if someone is eligible for this new prescription medication for Alzheimer’s disease, one would first consult with their physician. Once a patient has been prescribed Aduhelm, it is administered every 4 weeks via intravenous infusion (IV) in a clinical setting. Along with the infusions, patients receive routine MRI brain scans to assess if the medication is working. Researchers theorize that Aduhelm stimulates the immune system to eliminate the toxic protein beta-amyloid component, believed to destroy the neurons in the brain related to cognitive function. Aduhelm is a prescription medication that has shown improvements for delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Although Aduhelm is not a cure, many dementia specialists believe that Aduhelm is a step to making Alzeimer’s disease an illness that can be managed, instead of a terminal one.

Information based on and more information available at:

https://www.alzinfo.org/articles/treatment/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-alzheimers-drug-aduhelm/

https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-aduhelm